It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like…I’m Never Leaving My Apartment

I’m originally from a town in the very northwest corner of Pennsylvania. It snows for ages and the sun never shines. This, combined with a terrible case of seasonal affective disorder, makes me want to curl up with a cup of coffee, warm socks, and a cozy sweater, and never leave my house after that first snowflake falls.

Summer Aly is vibrant, full of life, and doesn’t leave the house without a sundress and a smile. I love it—every minute. It doesn’t matter if it is 100 degrees outside; I want to soak it up while I can. I’m like a Disney princess on Christmas morning after just winning the lottery and finding out she gets a free puppy.

Now I live in Kentucky and it is glorious. I still get the seasons, but the winter is immensely shorter. However, you wouldn’t know it from the snow we are having today, which inspired today’s post. Southern people don’t understand the sheer length and brutality of a Pennsylvania winter. They don’t get that once October hits, there’s no sun until well into the summer. Your Memorial Day picnic could be frosted over. I suppose I’m turning a little Southern now, thanks to my impending marriage to a Kentucky boy, and it makes me more depressed than ever to see the snow start to fall again today. Isn’t this supposed to be over?

But I’m still not leaving the house.

I say all of these personal details that you didn’t really need to know to make a point. Going outside is just not an option in the winter for me. Inspiration is difficult. The great white north has ruined me forever. Those blogs about staying cozy on your morning run? Pointless for me, because there is no way you’re dragging my ass outside after it hit below 40 degrees.

What is a girl to do? I don’t even like driving to the gym if there’s any precipitation coming down. Are there at-home options for a pansy like me? Why, yes there is my friend!

Ok, I can’t actually top a workout that I do at the gym. For me, there is nothing like the energy, variety and, most importantly, the buzz of people–especially in a group class. I also don’t think I get the same quality of lifting in. I love the atmosphere. However, if I’m not going to leave the house, I get antsy and need to do something besides watch Gossip Girl reruns on DVD.

I’ve never tried P90x because it’s expensive and I’d rather spend my money on a Lilly Pulitzer dress, so I cannot vouch for those results. People swear by it, and maybe one of these days I’ll check it out. I can, however, recommend some DVDs and at-home workouts that I’ve found make me actually sore, sweaty, and show some results… and you could still buy that Murfee Scarf you’ve been eyeing.

My girl crush…the one that isn’t Beyonce

I’m a little bit in love with Jillian Michaels. I think if we were to ever meet in real life, I’d get star struck and be able to do nothing but blubber like a thirteen year-old girl meeting one of those British kids from One Direction. I love love love her yoga DVD, Ripped in 30, and the shredder of all abs.

I also have a big crush on Bob Harper. Like, huge crush. His yoga DVD is the one of the greatest at home workouts I’ve tried for when I’m in the mood for a different sort of challenge. Yoga has this reputation for being a girl thing, and kind of low energy. If you think that it won’t be a challenge, I’m begging you to tell me how this workout goes for you. Who knows, maybe I’m just a Nancy.

My favorite at-home workout of all time involves my fiancé’s second love. His Xbox Kinect: ZUMBA CORE! There is a reason for my love of this game. I get to work out and it’s a competition!! I’m hugely competitive and love that the game has you earn points and beat your own records. It’s the bomb. You also need to know you get all kinds of sweaty.

There is a section at the beginning, or so I’ve heard, that teaches you the steps. I’ve never been a read the directions kind of gal, but it’s been pretty great to just jump right in and learn as you go! M, that guy I’m marrying, keeps threatening to put videos of me doing it on YouTube. Don’t get too excited, I haven’t pissed him off enough to make that happen quite yet;)

Anyone else have something they like to do when they’ve got the winter blues? I’m always looking to try new things!